DAPHNE, Alabama – The Daphne City Council eliminated five of the seven candidates for the vacant District 1 seat after an interview process Wednesday night. The two remaining candidates, small business owner Leon Allen and retired educator and real estate agent Lynn Mitchell, failed to get a majority vote. The Council has until Dec. 18 to fill the seat, but indicated they would revote at the next regular meeting Monday.

Allen is a former student of Mayor Bailey Yelding and the owner of a BP gas and service station on Main Street. He told the Council he has lived and worked in Daphne for about 32 years and has a cooperative vision for the city and a flexible fiscal policy.

Mitchell retired to Daphne four years ago and describes herself as a full-time community worker who serves as a small business support counselor and operates a job seekers program at Daphne United Methodist Church. She told the Council she was highly motivated with a wide variety of experience that doesn’t make her an expert in anything but makes her know a little about a lot of things.

Councilman John Lake said he was impressed with all the candidates, and encouraged them to participate in civic regardless of whether they were chosen.

“I think everybody here is looking for a mix of qualities, and I don’t want anyone to think that if they are not selected tonight, than they should not seek the office in the election next November,” Lake said.